Throughout the ages, the two most fundamental questions humans have asked are: what does it mean to be alive and are we alone in the universe. Researchers at the Arizona Astrobiology Center are asking those questions and more through interdisciplinary collaboration with experts and students in the sciences, arts and humanities.

Image

To make the study of astrobiology more accessible, the Arizona Astrobiology Center explores the origins, evolution and distribution of life in the universe through dialogue, educational resources, community outreach, skill-based programming for U of A students, research and events. Its latest offering, “Big Questions: Astrobiology,” is a new planetarium dome show that premiered October 3 at Flandrau Science Center.

The dome show focuses on the U of A’s role in pursuing answers to the questions of the universe, especially through the OSIRIS-REx mission and the ongoing chemical analysis of the sample materials returned from the asteroid Bennu. The idea for the show was conceived by Dante Lauretta, founding director of the Arizona Astrobiology Center, principal investigator of OSIRIS-REx, and Regents Professor of planetary science and cosmochemistry at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and Corey Knox, the center’s deputy director. 

Lauretta and Knox wrote the initial script. Videographers from the INTUITIVE Planetarium team at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, also known as the home of Space Camp, put the script, graphics and soundtrack together to create the final video production.

Image

“Being part of this production reminded me why I became a scientist in the first place,” Lauretta said. “It’s about the awe I feel when asking the big questions. Where we come from? Are we alone in the universe? This production brings science and art together to spark curiosity and connect people to the cosmos, inspiring imagination and opening the door to discovery.”

The video, which is offered for free to planetariums around the world, has been downloaded over 130 times for viewing on six continents.

“We were hoping for maybe ten downloads, but the reception to this film has been beyond our expectations,” said David Weigel, INTUITIVE Planetarium director at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. “If only there was a planetarium in Antarctica, this could be showing on every continent. We hope that Big Questions: Astrobiology inspires audiences all over the world to foster a spirit of curiosity about the universe we live in.”

The impactful visualization and storytelling achieved by dome shows such as “Big Questions: Astrobiology” play a critical role in engaging the public engagement and educating students and communities.

“Our mission tagline is ‘making astrobiology relevant to everyone,’” Knox said. “That’s what we wanted to achieve with this dome show.”